According to the Tianjin Municipal Planning Bureau, under the Tianjin Rail Transit Network Plan (2012-2020), Tianjin will build a two-tier network of municipal and urban lines within its administrative area, with a total scale of about 686 km by 2020. Rail transit's share of total public transport will reach more than 40%, giving full play to public transport's role as the main backbone.
　　Two Horizontal and Two Vertical Lines
　　The layout structure of Tianjin's municipal rail transit lines is "two horizontal and two vertical."
　　Two horizontal lines: Z1 and Z2, aligned with the main urban development axis and located on the north and south banks of the Haihe River respectively.
　　Two vertical lines: Z3 and Z4, coordinated and interacting with urban development belts. Z3 runs along the city's north-south central axis, expanding future urban development space, while Z4 effectively promotes the development of the coastal urban development belt.
　　Central Urban Area Planned Network
　　Composed of 3 municipal lines and 13 urban lines, forming a "ring-and-radial" structure, with the rail ring line being the combined M5 and M6 loop.
　　The central urban area rail network both strengthens the central radial function and meets ring-direction travel demand between peripheral areas.
　　The total scale is 1,380 km, comprising 4 municipal lines and 24 urban lines. The central urban area network includes 13 urban lines and 2 municipal rail transit lines.
　　Mileage within the ring reaches 424 km, with a network density of 0.97 km/km2 (1.53 km/km2 within the Middle Ring). Population coverage within walking distance (600 m) of rail transit stations reaches 81%, and job coverage reaches 87%.
　　Binhai New Area Planned Network
　　Includes 3 municipal lines passing through the core area and 8 urban rail lines including the Jinbin Light Rail, forming a central radial network with Yujiapu as the core.
　　The planning scheme for the mid-reach area of the Haihe River mainly considers reserved planning for rail transit corridors.
　　Five lines are in operation: M1, M2, M3, M9, and M6 (Phase I North Section), with a length of 168 km and 112 stations, including 7 transfer stations, carrying an average daily passenger volume of about 1 million person-trips per day.
　　Nine lines are under construction: the M1 East Extension, M4 Phase I, M5, M6 Phase II, M7 Phase I, M10 Phase I, M11 Phase I, B1, and Z4 Phase I, with a total mileage of 240 km.
　　Approved projects: M4 Phase II, M8 Phase I, and Z2, which are preparing for construction.